| Drugs Mailed
to The Bronx From PR Led to COVID Mistrial
Now Co-Defendant Detained
By Matthew
Russell Lee, Patreon
BBC
- Guardian
UK - Honduras
- ESPN
SDNY COURTHOUSE,
Nov 16 – Abel Montilla and ten
others were indicted for a
narcotics conspiracy involving
sending cocaine into the
mainland United States from
Puerto
Rico.
On October 13,
2020 U.S. District Court for
the Southern District of New
York Judge P. Kevin Castel
held an arraignment and
scheduling proceeding. Inner
City Press covered it.
A range of
CJA lawyers, including as to
one the law firm of Debevoise
& Plimpton, entered not
guilty pleas for their
clients.
Discovery on
large external hard drives was
discussed.
On November 16,
2022, co-defendant Esteban
Vargas Sanjuro was brought
into Magistrates Court,
seeking release on bond. Inner
City Press was there; the
defendant's wife was in the
gallery. The defense lawyer
offered a $350,000 bond, seven
co-signers. But nothing in the
package addressed the "danger
to the community" posed by
continued import of cocaine in
custom-made furniture from
Puerto Rico, Magistrate Judge
Jennifer E. Willis ruled.
Sanjury remains detained.
Jump back
to September 26, 2022. Abel
Montilla was on (first) trial,
and initial co-defendant
Anabel Colon Reyes on the
witness stand. She testified
about package of cocaine
mailed, including to DHL, from
Puerto Rico to Orlando,
Florida and to The Bronx. She
was arrested in September
2019, spent seven days in jail
then decided to cooperate with
the government. She wants a
5K-1 letter.
Montilla's
defense lawyer asked why she
had gotten interested in his
client's nickname, Cochabomba,
and not Peter "El Loco." Judge
Castel called the end of the
trial day.
On September 28,
this: "Re: United States v.
Abel Montilla, a/k/a “Coche
Bomba,” S9 19 Cr. 536 (PKC)
Dear Judge Castel: The
Government writes to
respectfully request that the
Court adjourn trial in the
abovecaptioned case until the
Government’s remaining witness
(“CW-1”) is able to satisfy
the Southern District’s COVID
protocols and enter the
courthouse, so that CW-1 may
testify in person. (See Ct.
Exs. 2, 3; Sept. 28, 2022
Trial Tr. at 358.) The
Government has discussed this
matter with defense counsel
and defense counsel has
conveyed that the defendant
does not object to an
adjournment. As the Court is
aware, CW-1 arrived in Court
today to testify as a
Government witness. After
taking the witness stand, but
before the jury entered the
courtroom, CW-1 indicated to a
Spanish language interpreter
that CW-1 was experiencing
symptoms consistent with
COVID-19. At the Court’s
direction, CW-1 was removed
from the courtroom and a PCR
test was administered, which
came back positive for
COVID-19."
On September 29,
Inner City Press went to
Courtroom 11D as Judge Castel,
after argument, declared a
mistrial based on "manifest
necessity."
On November 4,
Inner City Press was in the
Magistrates Court when a
co-defendant of Montilla came
in and pleaded not guilty:
"Minute Entry for proceedings
held before Magistrate Judge
Barbara C. Moses:Arraignment
as to Esteban Vargas Sanjurjo
(13) Count 1,2 Esteban Vargas
Sanjurjo (13) Count 1,2 held
on 11/4/2022. Defendant is
present with attorney Victor
Molina; AUSA Andrew Jones and
Spanish Interpreter are also
present. Brady Order given.
Plea entered by Esteban Vargas
Sanjurjo (13) Count 1,2
Esteban Vargas Sanjurjo (13)
Count 1,2 Not Guilty.
Conference before USDJ on
12/13/22"
Inner City
Press will continue to follow
the case.
The case is US v.
Montilla, et al., 19-cr-536
(Castel)
***
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